|
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences WL110, 3 credits College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences Fall
2006 |
Class Location and Meeting Time: Rotunda D (SRO D), Tuesday & Thursday, 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Instructor’s Contact Information: Dr. Dan Hubbard: Office: SNP 139-C Telephone: 688-6121
(Instructor on Record) Email: WebCT email only
Mr. Trevor Selch: Office: SNP 159 Telephone: 690-4899
Email: WebCT email only
Office Hours: email for appointment, or come by SNP 139-C or SNP 159
Required Text:
Chiras, D.D, J. P. Reganold, and O.S.
Owen. 2005. Natural Resource Conservation: Management for a
Sustainable Future, 9th edition. Prentice Hall,
Course Description: Ecological approach to conservation; human’s past and present impacts on world environments; wise use of natural resources, including soil, water, air, forests, rangelands, energy, wildlife, and fisheries. Students will gain factual knowledge and learn fundamental concepts of natural resource conservation and management. The influence of culture and the wants, needs, and desires of human beings will be integrated into the material.
Prerequisites: There are no formal prerequisites for this course; however, technology skills are required in this course. These skills relate to use of internet resources, primarily browsers and Adobe Acrobat Reader. The recommended browser is the most current version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Basic technology (e.g., computer system, network, and software) requirements and assistance are provided at http://learn.sdstate.edu/online/require.htm. Additional information may be obtained by contacting SDSU support services at (605) 688-6776, or SDSU.SupportDesk@sdstate.edu.
Instructional
Method: The primary mode of instruction will be lecture (accompanied by visual aids), case studies and other exercises. Topic notes and/or material for exercises are provided on WebCT in advance. Visual presentations are provided for each lecture to facilitate comprehension of selected topics. Lectures (.pdf files of slides, etc.) can be printed off before class for note taking, but materials may change prior to lecture. Information may be presented in lecture that is not on WebCT lectures.
Course Goals
and Outcomes: This course fulfills the Institutional Graduation Requirement for Land and Natural Resources (Goal #1): Students will understand land and other natural resource stewardship within the land-grant philosophy by using scientific principles.
Goal #1: Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): As a result of taking this course, students will:
SLO 1. Learn the fundamental importance of land and other natural resource stewardship;
SLO 2. Understand scientific principles as they pertain to stewardship of land and other natural resources;
SLO 3. Develop an ethic for responsible use of land and other natural resources; and,
SLO 4. Develop knowledge or skills related to the sustainable stewardship of land and other natural resources.
Student learning outcomes for Goal #1 will be assessed with case studies and online examinations. SLO 1 will be assessed with specific questions derived from topic summaries and Chapters 1, 3 - 7, and 9 - 16. SLO 2 will be assessed with specific questions derived from topic summaries and Chapters 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 - 16. SLO 3 will be assessed with specific questions derived from topic summaries and Chapters 1, 3, 5 -7, 10, and 11. SLO 4 will be assessed with specific questions derived from topic summaries and Chapters 1 through 5, 7, and 10.
Goal #2: This course also is intended to meet the requirement for globalization. Students will understand globalization and how it affects the human community by:
SLO 1. Demonstrating a basic level of understanding of globalization;
SLO 2. Identifying the benefits and cost implications of globalization;
SLO 3. Identifying and analyzing global issues including how multiple perspectives impact such issues; and
SLO 4. Interpreting global issues and data utilizing discipline-specific analytical and/or philosophical tools.
Student learning outcomes for the Goal #2 will be assessed with examination questions that address factors and current issues associated with globalization. These questions will be derived from topic summaries and information contained in Chapters 1 through 7, 11, 12, and 14 through 16 (see topics and associated student learning outcomes).
Course Web Site:
Online materials (i.e., syllabus, lecture notes, exam results, and resource
links) are available at http://webct.sdstate.edu/. You will
utilize WebCT extensively, and we suggest you become
familiar with this program early in the semester and ask for assistance if you
have any questions. The WebCT
Course Requirements: Students are required to complete
all assigned textbook readings. Students are required to complete the
quiz, 4 scheduled exams, and 2 of 4 case studies. It is strongly
recommended that students read each chapter in the textbook prior to the
lectures because chapters cover material in much greater detail than we can
discuss in the course. We expect
you to ask questions on topics that you do not fully
understand.
Attendance: Students are strongly encouraged to attend all lectures; however, due to large class size attendance will not be monitored. Studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between grades and class attendance.
Tentative Course
Schedule
|
Date |
Theme |
Topic |
Assigned Chapter |
Assignment Activity |
|
8/29 |
Introduction |
Syllabus and class expectations |
|
Log-in to WebCT and print off lecture notes |
|
8/31 |
Natural Resource Conservation overview |
1 |
| |
|
9/5 |
General Ecology |
Ecology 1 |
3 |
|
|
9/7 Last drop day |
Ecology 2 |
3 |
| |
|
9/12 |
QUIZ |
Environmental economics and ethics |
2 |
|
|
9/14 |
Human Ecology |
Human population change |
4 |
|
|
9/19 |
World hunger |
5 |
| |
|
9/21 |
Exam review |
|
| |
|
9/26 |
EXAM 1 |
|
|
|
|
9/28 |
Terrestrial |
Nature of soils |
6 |
|
|
10/3 |
Soil Conservation | 7 |
| |
|
10/5 |
Rangeland |
13 |
| |
|
10/10 |
|
14 |
| |
|
10/12 |
Wildlife Ecology |
16 |
Case studies - black hills forest management - gray wolf reintroduction | |
|
10/17 |
Wildlife Management |
16 |
Case study due | |
|
10/19 |
Extinction and exam review |
15 |
| |
|
10/24 |
EXAM 2 |
|
|
|
|
10/26 |
Aquatic |
Aquatic environments |
9 |
|
|
10/31 |
Water pollution |
11 |
| |
|
11/2 |
Managing water resources |
10 |
Case studies - Wyoming wilderness lakes - Ethanol | |
|
11/7 |
Fisheries Conservation |
12 |
Case study due | |
|
11/9 |
Fisheries Management |
12 |
| |
|
11/14 |
Exam review |
|
| |
|
11/16 |
EXAM 3 |
|
|
|
|
11/21 |
Pollution and Energy |
Air pollution |
18 |
|
|
11/23 |
Thanksgiving
Holiday |
|
| |
|
11/28 |
Global climate change |
19 |
| |
|
11/30 |
Energy |
21 |
| |
|
12/5 |
Energy |
21 |
| |
|
12/7 |
Exam review |
|
| |
|
12/13 |
Final Exam |
|
|
|
Grading/assessment:
The final course grade is composed of the following elements:
|
Title |
Due date |
Points |
|
Assignment 1: online quiz |
9/12 |
10 |
|
ONLINE EXAM 1 |
9/26 (Must start at 9:00) |
100 |
|
Case study 1: Black Hills forest; Gray wolf re-introduction |
10/17 |
20 |
|
ONLINE EXAM 2 |
10/24 (Must start at 9:00) |
100 |
|
Case study 2: Ethanol |
11/7 |
20 |
|
ONLINE EXAM 3 |
11/16 (Must start at 9:00) |
100 |
|
ONLINE FINAL EXAM |
12/13 (Must start at 12:00) |
100 |
Assessment descriptions:
Assignment 1: Online quiz. Learning objective à 1) Students will be able to utilize the online assessment tools (WebCT). The first quiz will be given using the same format as the exams. Students will log onto WebCT and be given an allotted amount of time to complete the quiz. 2) Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ecological principles. Online quiz will cover Chapter 3, text and lectures. The multiple choice quiz will consist of 5 questions, and students have 10 minutes to complete the quiz (from the time you login). Each question is worth 2 points for a total of 10 points.
Case Studies: 40 total points. Students will be required to complete 2 case studies. In each instance, the student will have a choice between 2 case studies. "Black Hills forest" or "Gray wolf re-introduction" for the first required case study assignment, and "Wyoming wilderness lakes" or "Ethanol" for the second case study assignment. Students will be allotted 5 days to complete each assignment (see course schedule). Because of this policy, we WILL NOT allow make-up assignments for any of the case studies. Case studies will be graded based on how well you support an opinion or statement, whether or not you are "right" or "wrong."
Evaluation Procedures:
Students will be assessed with an online quiz, case studies and online exams. Online exam format will consist of multiple-choice, matching, and true-and-false questions. Exam content will include information presented in lectures, case studies, guest lectures, and chapter readings. Online exams begin at 9:00 AM on day of exam so students must be at a computer at that time. Do not go to the SRO D! Time for online exams will be limited to 30-50 minutes depending on exam length.
Make-up exams are discouraged. In order to be eligible for a make-up exam, you must have an approved university excuse and contact Dr. Dan Hubbard, Trevor Selch or the department secretary (688-6121) before the scheduled in-class exam. There will be no make-up exams given if you do not contact one of us before the exam. The make-up exam format will be 100% essay.
Total points available:
|
Category |
Points |
|
Online quiz (1 for 10 points) |
10 |
|
Case studies (2 @ 20 points each) |
40 |
|
Exams
(3 @ 100 points each) Final Exam (1 for 100 points) |
300 100 |
|
Total |
450 |
Grades will be assigned according to the standard scoring system. Only by attaining the following points/percentages can you be assured of receiving a desired grade.
|
Grade |
Percentage |
Points (without final exam) |
Points (with final exam) |
|
A |
90–100% |
315-350 |
405-450 |
|
B |
80–89% |
280-314 |
360-404 |
|
C |
70-79% |
245-279 |
315-359 |
|
D |
60-69% |
210-244 |
270-314 |
|
F |
<60% |
<210 |
<270 |
Academic Freedom and
Responsibility
Freedom
in learning.
Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in
which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student
academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students
should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any
course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated
to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal
opinion or conduct should first contact the instructor of the course. If the
student remains unsatisfied, the student may contact the department head and/or
dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the
evaluation.
Students are entitled to ‘reasonable accommodations’ under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those in need of such accommodation should notify the instructor and make appropriate arrangements with the SDSU Office of Disabilities Services (145 Binnewies Hall, 688-4504 or 688-4032 TTD).
Any form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. You are subject to the academic dishonesty policy in the following section.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Academic Dishonesty Policy
(Revised Nov. 2000)
The Department and the University have taken a strong and clear stand regarding academic dishonesty. We believe that it is unethical and unprofessional to present work done by others in a manner indicating that the student/s is/are presenting material as his/her original ideas or work; such activity is academic dishonesty. Plagiarizing or knowingly assisting others in plagiarizing on tests, quizzes, problems, assignments, research papers, theses, dissertations, or other academic activities is unacceptable behavior. All academic work completed by students is expected to be the original work of that individual student, unless permission is specifically granted beforehand by the faculty member for some form of team effort or other format. If students are unsure if a particular activity may be regarded as a form of academic dishonesty they should consult the faculty member before undertaking such an activity.
The University has a policy on academic honesty, procedures for academic grade and dishonesty appeals, and sanctions for such activities (see Student Code). The Student Code has different procedures for undergraduate and graduate students.
The Department policy described in this handout is intended to attempt to address perceived academic dishonesty violations between the faculty member/s and student/s before Student Code procedures are implemented. This is done because under Student Code procedures the minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is Disciplinary Probation. These added Department steps (Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the Undergraduate Student and Graduate Student Procedures) should not be construed as an attempt to circumvent the Student Code system; both students and/or the faculty member have the option to go directly into that system. The Department procedures portion of this policy are only available to a student one time; any second perceived offense will immediately follow the Student Code procedures.
1. When a student/s is/are determined to have broken the Academic Dishonesty Policy, he/she will be notified verbally by the faculty member involved as to the problem and sanction selected. This is similar to procedures 02:02:01:03 and 02:02:01:04 in the Student Code. The faculty member will do this immediately after the perceived violation o